utilized to attempt to correct the damage that followed would have been impossible for anyone inhabiting Earth to believe until several years ago. It is a most unfortunate chain of events.”
Man and machine again lapsed back into silence for a time.
The man cleared his throat and asked, “So, once I arrive at my destination, how long will I have to wait for the arrival of the initial extraterrestrial probe?”
“The probe will appear within several hours of your arrival. The initial probe is the scout for the invasion fleets. It is hoped that by destroying the probe with weaponry that is not available to the inhabitants of Earth during the time period in question will break the chain of events that would surely follow.”
The machine added, “The technology that is available aboard the ship will effectively prevent any communication capability of the probe, as well as, destroy it utterly.”
The man looked over at the machine, then back to the ship. He said, “Once the probe is destroyed, I will initiate and launch the global shield complex.” The man paused never taking his eyes off of the shiny silver ship then continued, “Will the shield do its job? Most likely it will be attacked from within and possibly from space as well.”
“That the shield surrounding Earth will be attacked, at some point at least, from space is a very probable assumption. No doubt your ancestors trapped upon the surface of the planet will not appreciate their access to space closed indefinitely. The multiple redundancies of the global shield complex should resist any aggressive actions from below and above with equal resilience. The shield is self-replicating and has a complex regenerative energy source that should last for as long as needed. The operating portion of the shield is encased in a stasis field. The shield itself should act as a buffer above and below the operating system. In effect, one could correctly say that once initiated, the Earth global shielding complex should last until doomsday.”
“Doomsday?” asked the man glancing again at the machine.
“To last until doomsday is a popular euphemism used frequently during the era to which you shall be traveling. The saying means until the end of the world.” The machine paused and added with a slight tilt of its optical array, “The saying seems appropriate.”
The man nodded and said, “Once the probe is destroyed and the global shielding complex is deployed and operational, I am to arm and activate the ship’s unit self-destruct sequence.” He looked at his feet pensively and added, “The ship will then be atomized,” a pause, “along with me.”
The machine’s optical array whirred silently as it observed the man standing sullenly beside it. It said, its metallic voice softening as if it were attempting consolation, “That statement is inherently correct. It is of utmost importance that no trace of your activities be discovered after your departure, anywhere or anytime. Absolutely no evidence must find its way back into the altered reality of this time period.”
The machine paused and swiveled its torso so that its optical array again viewed the silver ship. It paused and added quietly, “This is a great sacrifice that you have volunteered for. You are very brave.”
The man said, peering at his feet, “I don’t feel brave.”
The machine answered, “But you are, very much so.”
A period of silence then followed between man and machine that was neither uncomfortable nor comfortable, but pleasant all the same. A large green light lit up on the console and beeped loudly once then began to quietly blink incessantly. Both turned to look at the blinking light.
The machine said, “It is time for your departure.” It turned from the console, the green light of the button captured and displayed fractally across its multifaceted optical array as if thousands of bright green impossibly small dots appeared and disappeared across the machines head with the beat of the console.
It asked, “Are you all right?”
The man looked out across the park at the few people remaining, milling around listlessly. He looked out at the bright green of the grass and the many hues of life that played upon the tree line. His nostrils flared as he thought of the destruction that was replacing this scene across the surface of the globe. Once, in mankind’s youth the entire planet was pristine. Humanity matured and it became less so. But, the arrival of the probe and the invasion fleet that followed had very nearly destroyed his world, his home, his Earth. If allowed to go unchecked, the planet would fall, humanity would fall. He swept his watering eyes across the few languid well wishers still wandering the great park; most had left, ambling off to some other place, some other area, confused and alone. Finally, his eyes settled upon the impossibly bright silver ball that was his ship, his vessel for traveling back in time, his vehicle for saving the planet and its people. The man’s lips tightened and he nodded once, blinked away tears and turned to face the machine. He said, “I’m ready.”
Its metallic voice now carrying a ring of formality, the machine asked, “Can you function properly on this mission?”
The man nodded sharply.
The machine who functioned as the sender asked, “Do you accept the responsibility of the future/past mission?”
“Affirmation,” replied the man who would be sent. He smiled at his metallic companion and again nodded, then without another word, turned on his heels and briskly strode down the short ramp to an open hatch in the great silver sphere. As he stooped to enter the opening, he glanced furtively about him, soaking up for a final time the sights and smells of the Earth, his home.
He looked back one final time at the machine still standing at the console, smiled a tight smile and turning entered the hatch. After a moment, the opening closed. Abruptly the great silver sphere began to hum gently, then shimmered crazily and then finally disappeared altogether. Shortly thereafter the world that the sphere had departed changed forever.
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